Always wanted an Audi but never thought you had enough cash to drive one off a forecourt? Well, the A1 is the purported entry-point, with options kicking off from around £18,000, taking a lot of the goodness that Audi offers in its motoring and in-cabin technology and distilling it into this, the smallest five-door Audi in the range. Indeed, its underpinnings share that of the Volkswagen Polo or Seat Ibiza – this one’s just a bit, well, fancier.
Thing is, Audi being Audi, you’ll be lured into buying those extra technology packs and goodies and – if you want the custard (sorry, ‘Python’) yellow S Line finish of the car you see before you in special S Line Contrast Edition finish – then, well, you’ll be adding around an extra £10K to the price tag. Maybe that doesn’t sound quite as dessert-like tasty now, eh?
We took the 2019 Audi A1 Sportback for a spin over a long weekend, clocking up over 100 miles through city, suburbs and rural roads – and on every one of those miles we appreciated the additional comfort, sound-system, in-car safety and technological additions that were part and parcel of this package. The bigger question we came away with, really, is whether Audi’s smallest 5-door car makes sense compared to buying an altogether sportier VW option.
Unflinching design
Much of the Audi range is now on board with the modern stylings of the German brand’s contemporary look. In the A1 that means sharp, almost aggressive lines; the design has ceased the rounded, soft Audi looks of old and we think that makes for head-turner with real road presence. This isn’t a common car on the road, especially with this lick of paint, so it feels more exciting than a run-of-the-mill VW or increasingly common Mini hatch.
READ MORE 2019 AUDI A1 REVIEW BELOW
Audi A1 Sportback (2019) review: A fancy first car?
Always wanted an Audi but never thought you had enough cash to drive one off a forecourt? Well, the A1 is the purported entry-point, with options kicking off from around £18,000, taking a lot of the goodness that Audi offers in its motoring and in-cabin technology and distilling it into this, the smallest five-door Audi in the range.
Audi A1 Review 2023 | Top Gear
Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. “Second generation A1 is the cheapest way into Audi ownership. Rivals have it licked on driving manners, though” Interior design and quality, touchscreen interface, cabin space Mediocre engines, drab handling, not the sports hatch it purports to be The cheapest way into Audi ownership.
2019 Audi A1 Looks All Grown Up In Paris
Eight years out from the first-gen Audi A1’s world debut in Paris, Ingolstadt is back with an all-new iteration. The 2019 Audi A1 Sportback is quicker, larger, and all-around an improved product from the original that arrived in 2010. And on display at the Paris Motor Show, it looks especially good.